Black Hairstyles

Black hair even though varied;provide the hair texture and volume making it perfect for making all sorts of hairstyles. Black share special relationship with their hair. They consider their hair more than an extension of their beauty. Throughout history it can be noted that African-Americans hairstyles have been created as a result of what was happening in society.

Slave Era played an important role in developing black hairstyles. Black people’s hairstyles have stemmed from their African ancestry. Africans used to braid their hair in different elaborate styles in order to symbolize social status. When they came to America, herbal concoctions and special combs they used in Africa were unavailable. Because they had to work constantly in the fields and had no time to care for their hair, many slaves ended up developing head lice and ring worms. In order to cover scarring and baldness they had developed as a result, they started wrapping their heads with coarse cloth, developing the use of head wraps. House slaves used to work in their masters’ homes. They wore braids in subdued manner in order to look presentable to their masters’ and their guests.

During the First Pump Era in the early 1900s, Madame C. J. Walker developed several hair care products for promoting black hair growth. Women used these products with a hot comb in order to make their hair straight like Caucasians. During the period of civil rights movement, African-American men and women started to see straight hair as assimilation. For supporting the movement, they started a black is beautiful campaign. They showed solidarity and pride in their culture. They started wearing their natural hair in Afros during this time period.

The 1980s and 90s brought hip-hop and music videos. Hip-hop is responsible for introducing a new style of music and hairstyles. Those who were involved in gangster rap wore cornrows and braids, and the men wore hi-top fades, which were made popular by the rap group named Kid ‘n’ Play. Rastafarian culture was also added into hip-hop with sounds of Jamaica and the dread lock black hairstyles being followed. Reggae musicians sang about social injustice so dreadlocks were referred to as freedom hair.

In 21st century black people have a new attitude regarding their natural hair. This attitude is simply called Do you which means they are encouraged to wear their natural hair in any way they like. They take their natural hair as an expression of style not as a political statement or result of their circumstance. African-Americans wear Black hairstyles like Afros, braids, Bantu knots curls,dreadlocks, cornrows and twists in order to reveal their own sense of style. History has played an important part in developing these black hairstyles which are still in use today. Black people are still close to their roots by means of these black hairstyles.

Black hair even though varied;provide the hair texture and volume making it perfect for making all sorts of hairstyles. Black share special relationship with their hair. They consider their hair more than an extension of their beauty. Throughout history it can be noted that African-Americans hairstyles have been created as a result of what was happening in society.

Slave Era played an important role in developing black hair styles. Black people’s hairstyles have stemmed from their African ancestry. Africans used to braid their hair in different elaborate styles in order to symbolize social status. When they came to America, herbal concoctions and special combs they used in Africa were unavailable. Because they had to work constantly in the fields and had no time to care for their hair, many slaves ended up developing head lice and ring worms. In order to cover scarring and baldness they had developed as a result, they started wrapping their heads with coarse cloth, developing the use of head wraps. House slaves used to work in their masters’ homes. They wore braids in subdued manner in order to look presentable to their masters’ and their guests.

During the First Pump Era in the early 1900s, Madame C. J. Walker developed several hair care products for promoting black hair growth. Women used these products with a hot comb in order to make their hair straight like Caucasians. During the period of civil rights movement, African-American men and women started to see straight hair as assimilation. For supporting the movement, they started a black is beautiful campaign. They showed solidarity and pride in their culture. They started wearing their natural hair in Afros during this time period.

The 1980s and 90s brought hip-hop and music videos. Hip-hop is responsible for introducing a new style of music and hairstyles. Those who were involved in gangster rap wore cornrows and braids, and the men wore hi-top fades, which were made popular by the rap group named Kid ‘n’ Play. Rastafarian culture was also added into hip-hop with sounds of Jamaica and the dread lock black hair styles being followed. Reggae musicians sang about social injustice so dreadlocks were referred to as freedom hair.

In 21st century black people have a new attitude regarding their natural hair. This attitude is simply called Do you which means they are encouraged to wear their natural hair in any way they like. They take their natural hair as an expression of style not as a political statement or result of their circumstance. African-Americans wear Black haircuts like Afros, braids, Bantu knots curls,dreadlocks, cornrows and twists in order to reveal their own sense of style. History has played an important part in developing these black hairstyles which are still in use today. Black people are still close to their roots by means of these black hairstyles.